Princeton Today: Dodge Poetry Festival

Former Poet Laureate Billy Collins is one of 70 poets who will be featured at the Dodge Poetry Festival, which begins tomorrow.
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins is one of 70 poets who will be featured at the Dodge Poetry Festival, which begins tomorrow.

Poets from all over the country will descend on Newark this week for the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, the largest poetry event in North America. The festival includes readings, performances, and conversations by dozens of the leading international voices in contemporary poetry.  These four-day celebrations of poetry, which are held every other year, have been called “poetry heaven” by former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, “a new Woodstock” by the Christian Science Monitor, and simply “Wordstock” by The New York Times.

Billy Collins, Yusef Komunyakaa, Natalie Diaz, Sharon Olds, and Tracy K. Smith are just a few of the well-known poets who will speak at the festival, which will take place at the “Poets’ Village” in Newark at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Newark downtown arts district.

The festival runs from Oct. 23 through Oct. 26. Single day, weekend and four-day passes to the Festival are available. For more information about tickets visit the NJPAC website. Tickets can also be purchased at the NJPAC box office.

WEATHER

Rain with a high of 60.

EVENTS TODAY

Photography: Before and After –  Presentation by photographer and artist Deana Lawson. Part of the visiting artist lecture series at Princeton University. 12:30 p.m. 185 Nassau St., Stewart Theater.

Room at the Table, Lawrence Public Library – Room at the Table is hosting a reading by seven local authors, Alex Adams, Robert Hebditch, David Henry, Gordon Jacoby, Babs Levin, Sharri Bockheim Steen, and Joanne Sutera.  Light refreshments will be provided.6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Lawrence Branch of Mercer County Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville.

Simone Dinnerstein Visits McCarter Theatre – Named one of Billboard’s best-selling instrumentalists, Simone Dinnerstein’s interpretations of Bach have remained at the core of her musical life. She has become an utterly distinctive voice in the forest of Bach interpreters, probing each variation as if it were something completely new. 7:30 p.m., 91 University Place, Princeton.

Frankenstein Screening at the Garden Theater – An encore production for the 50th Anniversary of the National Theatre. Danny Boyle directs with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating roles as Victor Frankenstein and his creature. Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his maker. Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless creature, increasingly desperate and vengeful, determines to track down his creator and strike a terrifying deal. Captured live on March 17 & 24, 2011 at the National Theatre, South Bank, London. Admission $18.

COMMUTE

Route 518 between Canal Road and Carroll Place is down to one lane, with alternating traffic weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The speed limit in the construction area has been reduced to 35 miles per hour. Starting Nov. 10, the road will be closed with a detour in place. Starting Nov. 24, the road will be closed with a detour weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The work is part of a long-term project that will be completed by the end of 2015. Delays should be expected. Motorists should exercise extra caution in the area and follow posted detours during times of closure.

In Princeton, Hunter Road has been between Lafayette and Westcott due to a water main break. There has been no update from the town on whether the road has been reopened. Police said Friday it would be closed until further notice.

Blackwell Road between Federal City Road and Cold Soil Road will remain closed to through traffic 24 hours a day until the repaving project is completed.